Dedicating the Holy Tent

7 Moses finished
setting up the Holy Tent.* On that day, he dedicated it to the Lord.
Moses anointed* the Tent and all the things in
it. Moses also anointed the altar* and all the
things used with it. This showed that these
things should be used only for worshiping the
Lord.
2Then the leaders
of Israel gave offerings
to the Lord. These men were the heads of
their families and leaders of their family
groups. These were the same men who were
in charge of counting the people.
3These
leaders brought gifts to the Lord. They
brought six covered wagons and twelve cows
for pulling the wagons. (One cow was given
by each leader. Each leader joined with
another leader to give one wagon.) The
leaders gave these things to the Lord at the
Holy Tent.
4The Lord said to
Moses, 5“Accept
these
gifts from the leaders. These gifts can be used
in the work of the Meeting Tent.* Give these
things to the Levite men. This will help them
do their work.”
6So Moses accepted
the wagons and the
cows. He gave these things to the Levite men.
7He gave two carts
and four cows to the men
in Gershon’s group. They needed the wagons
and the cows for their work.
8Then
Moses
gave four wagons and eight cows to the men
in Merari’s group. They needed the wagons
and cows for their work. Ithamar son of Aaron
the priest was responsible for the work of all
these men. 9Moses
did not give any cows or
wagons to the men in Kohath’s group. Why?
Because their job was to carry the holy things
on their shoulders.
10Moses anointed* the altar.* That same
day, the leaders brought their offerings for
dedicating the altar. They gave their offerings
to the Lord at the altar.
11The
Lord told
Moses, “Each day one leader must bring his
gift for dedicating the altar.”
12–83* {Each
of the twelve leaders brought
his gifts. These are the gifts:}
Each leader brought one silver plate that
weighed 3 1/4 pounds.* Each leader brought
one silver bowl that weighed 1 3/4 pounds.* Both of these gifts were weighed by the
official measure.* The bowl and the plate
were each filled with fine flour mixed with oil.
This was to be used as a grain offering. Each
leader also brought a large gold spoon that
weighed about 4 ounces.* The spoon was
filled with incense.* Each leader also brought 1 young bull, 1
ram, and 1 male lamb a year old. These
animals were for a burnt offering. Each leader
also brought 1 male goat to be used as a sin
offering. Each leader brought 2 cows, 5 rams,
5 male goats, and 5 male lambs a year old.
All of these things were sacrificed for a
fellowship offering.
On the first day, the leader of Judah’s
family group, Nahshon son of Amminadab
brought his gifts.
On the second day, the leader of Issachar,
Nethanel son of Zuar brought his gifts. On the third day, the leader of the people of
Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon brought his gifts.
On the fourth day, the leader of the people of
Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur brought his gifts.
On the fifth day, the leader of the people of
Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai
brought his gifts.
On the sixth day, the leader of the people of
Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel* brought his gifts.
On the seventh day, the leader of the people
of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud
brought his gifts.
On the eighth day, the leader of the people
of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur
brought his gifts.
On the ninth day, the leader of the people
of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni brought
his gifts.
On the tenth day, the leader of the people
of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai brought
his gifts.
On the eleventh day, the leader of the
people of Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran brought
his gifts.
On the twelfth day, the leader of the people
of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan brought his gifts.
84So all those
things were the gifts from the
leaders of the people of Israel. They brought
those things during the time that Moses
dedicated the altar* by anointing* it. They
brought 12 silver plates, 12 silver bowls, and 12
gold spoons. 85Each
silver plate weighed about
3 1/4 pounds.* And each bowl weighed about 1
3/4 pounds.* The silver plates and the silver
bowls together all weighed about 60 pounds,* using the official measure* 86The
12 gold
spoons filled with incense* weighed 4 ounces* each, using the official measure. The 12 gold
spoons all together weighed about 3 pounds.* 87The total number
of animals for the burnt
offering was 12 bulls, 12 rams, and 12 one-year-
old male lambs. There were also the
grain offerings that must be given with those
offerings. And there were 12 male goats that
were used for a sin offering to the Lord.
88The
leaders also gave animals to be killed and used
as a fellowship offering. The total number of
these animals was 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male
goats, and 60 one-year-old male lambs. In this
way, they dedicated the altar after Moses
anointed* it.
89Moses went into
the Meeting Tent* to
speak to the Lord. At that time, he heard the
Lord’s voice speaking to him. The voice was
coming from the area between the two Cherub
angels on the special cover* on top of the Box
of the Agreement.* {This
was the way} God
spoke to Moses.

Holy Tent Or, “tabernacle,” the tent where God came to live
among his people.
anoint(ed) To pour olive oil on people or things to show
they
are chosen for a special work or purpose.
altar A table or raised area used for offering sacrifices.
Meeting Tent The Holy Tent (tabernacle) where the people of
Israel went to meet with God.
Verses 12-83 In the Hebrew text each leader’s gift is listed
separately. But the text is the same for each gift, so it has
been
merged for easier reading.
3 1/4 pounds Or, “130 shekels.”
1 3/4 pounds Or, “70 shekels.”
official measure Literally, “holy shekel,” the standard of
measure used in the tabernacle and the temple.
4 ounces Or, “10 shekels.”
incense Special dried tree sap. Burned to make a
sweet-smelling
smoke, it was offered as a gift to God. Deuel Or, “Reuel.”
altar A table or raised area used for offering sacrifices. 3 1/4 pounds
Or, “130 shekels.” 1 3/4 pounds Or, “70 shekels.” 60 pounds Or,
“2,400 shekels.” incense Special dried tree sap. Burned to make a
sweet-smelling smoke, it was offered as a gift to God. 3 pounds Or, “120
shekels.” anoint To pour olive oil on people or things to show they are
chosen for a special work or purpose. cover Also called “mercy seat.” The
Hebrew word can mean “lid,” “cover,” or “place where sins are forgiven.”
Box of the Agreement Holy Box or “ark of the Covenant,” the box
containing the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them and other
things that proved God was with the people of Israel during their time in the
Sinai Desert.